Device for closing filled sacks and bags

ABSTRACT

A device for closing filled sacks and bags, such as refuse sacks, has a flat clamping plate with an opening to accommodate the gathered or twisted neck of the sack and accessible from the outside via resiliently spreadable gap in the plate. A carrying grip is formed by the web of a stirrup and two legs of the latter converge towards the sides of the grip in the direction of the plate.

United States Patent Schneider Sept. 25, 1973 [54] gig FOR CLOSINGFILLED SACKS AND FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 883,771 12/1961 GreatBritain 24/305 [76] Inventor: Walter Schneider, 8135 Langnau am1,477,737 4/1967 France I 24/3115 Abis, Zurich, Switzerland 150,5159/1920 Great Britain 24/264 [22] Filed: Mar. 13, 1972 F K Z I PrimaryExaminer rancis uge 1211 Appl' 234,148 Assistant Examinerl(enneth J.Dorner Attorney-Karl R. Ross [30] Foreign Application Priority Data July8, 1971 Switzerland 10035/71 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 24/305, 24/264 A devie for closing filled sacks and bags, such as re- [51 Int. Cl B6561 77/10 fu sacks, has a flat clamping plate with an opening to [58] Field OfSearch 24/305 R, 30.5 P, accommodate the gathered of twisted neck of thesack 24/305 255 and accessible from the outside via resiliently spread-150/3 able gap in the plate. A carrying grip is formed by the web of astirrup and two legs of the latter converge to- References Cited wardsthe sides of the grip in the direction of the plate.

I UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1961 Balderree 24/305 S 3 Claims, 7 DrawingFigures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For closing filled sacks and bags,in particular refuse sacks, string is still used to a great extent,despite the fact that such ties are awkward when the sacks are very fulland may also easily slip off during carrying if the sacks are smooth onthe outside.

Because of this, other methods of closing-filled sacks and bags havebeen sought and proposed; these methods involve clip-on clamping platesof springy plastics which close the neck of the sack after it hasbeen-gathered or twisted. These devices have an opening from the outsidevia a gap resiliently extensible to accept the neck of the sack.

Such closing devices are objectionable in objection that they aresuitable only for small and light bags, and not for heavy sacks such asrefuse sacks.

To ensure that the neck of the sack does not slip out of the opening inthe case of heavy sacks, the clamping plate must have a powerfulclamping action. Accordingly sufficiently strong pressure must beexerted to extend the gap and push the gathered or twisted neck of thesack therethrough.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to overcome all these disadvantagesinherent to the clamping devices known heretofore, according to thepresent invention the clamping plate is provided with a stirrup-shapedmember having two legs converging toward the clamping plate on eitherside of the gap, with the insides of the legs leading straight into thegap which in turn leads into the opening.

With a clamping device of the latter type, introducing the neck of thesack into the clamping plate is easier because the clamping plate can befixed on the neck of the sack by pulling. Drawing this clampingdeviceonto the sack requires far less effort than pushing-on or sliding-on theknown gripless clamping plates. The design in accordance with theinvention enables much more force to be applied when fitting the sackclosure compared with the known clamping devices, and is thereforeparticularly suited for closing large and heavy sacks.

The structure according to the invention not only facilitates fittingthe closure on the neck of the sack, but also makes it easy andconvenient to lift up the sack and carry it away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The accompanying drawing shows two embodimentof the invention and two modifications; in the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the device for use once only, in particularfor refuse sacks;

FIG. 2 shows the device on a full sack in a sectional view taken on lineII II of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the device as applied to afull sack, on a reduced scale;

FIG. 4 is a first detail as modified to FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is a second detail as modified to FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the device for repeated use, suitable for bagsand light sacks; and

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the device illustrated in FIG.6 with the twohalves twisted out of the plane of the plate.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGSJI and 2, the device includes aclamping plate, designated 1, consisting of resilient material, with acentral opening} whose inside edge is provided with serrations 2. Saidopening serves to accommodate the neck 4 of a refuse sack 4 which is tobe closed upon gathering or twisting of the neck. The clamping plate 1has a gap 5 for introducing the neck 4 of the sack. This gap ispartially obstructed by two points 6 acting as barbs which prevent theneck of the sack from moving out of the clamping plate once it isintroduced. Encompassing the gap 5 and integral with plate 1 is astirrup-shaped part 7 which has a web 7a serving as a carrying handleand two legs 7b converging towards the clamping plate to each side ofgap 5 at the acute angle a so that their inside surfaces 7c leadstraight into the gap 5. The clamping plate is provided withstrengthening ribs 9 extending at right angles to its plane, whichresist any twisting of the clamping plate from its plane.

On introducing the neck 4' of the sack into the opening 3, the twistedor gathered neck is first drawn through the inside space 8 encompassedby stirrup 7; the neck of the sack is drawn downwardly (F IG.2) by onehand, while the other hand pulls on stirrup 7. Owing to the tensileforce applied to stirrup 7, the gap 5 is widened elastically so that theneck 4' can enter the opening 3, whereupon gap 5 and its barbs 6 springback to their original positions so that the neck 4 of the sack cannotagain pass out of the opening 3. The serrations 2 provide an additionalsafeguard against the neck 4' of the sack slipping out of the clampingplate when the sack 4 is lifted by the stirrup 7 and carried away.

With heavy sacks the safeguard against withdrawal of the neck 4' isenhanced further by the provision of a stud 11 on one side of theclamping plate 1, onto which the eye 12 of a closing strap 13 fixed tothe other side of the plate is secured. As shown in F162 the closingstrap 13 holds the neck 4 of the sack in a sharply angled position onthe clamping plate.

In the modification of P164, the throat of the gap 5 has arrangedtherein only a single resilient barb 6.

In the modification detailed in FIGS the gap 5 is also barred by only asingle barb 6", though of greater length. On introducing the neck 4' ofthe sack the barb 6" is bent back elastically so as to widen the gap 5.

ing 3', 5 leading into the opening. Barbs 6" project into the opening atthe bottom of a stirrup formed integral with the clamping plate 1, theweb 7a serving as a handle, and the two legs of the stirrup 7bconverging at an acute angle towards the clamping plate, the insidesurfaces of the legs running straight into said openmg.

In contrast with the embodiment of FIGS.1 to 5, the system of FIGS. 6and 7 neither the clamping plate 1 nor the stirrup 7 is strengthenedwith ribs. This makes it possible to bend or twist the clamping plateand stirrup out of the plane of the plate in two opposing directions asshown in FIG]. The device according to FIGS.6 and 7 is intended forrepeated use as a closure and carrying device for bags and lightersacks, as for example those used for holding pulverulent or granularsubstances like chemicals, pharmaceuticals, detergents, etc. For suchpurposes the device according to FIGS.6 and 7 is a convenient closureand carrying grip. By twisting same as shown in FIG.7 it may easily beremoved and used again without damaging the neck of the sack.

What I claim is:

l. A closure for a sack of flexible material having a neck, said closurecomprising a generally flat plate formed with an opening adapted toreceive said neck, and a slot leading to said opening at one side ofsaid plate, a stirrup fixed to said plate and forming a grip at saidside, said stirrup having a pair of linear legs converging in thedirection of said slot and leading directly thereto for guiding saidneck into said opening through said slot, said legs including an acuteangle between them; and a resilient barb extending from one of said legsinto said opening and normally obstructing said slot while beingdeflectible upon insertion of said neck through said slot to enable saidneck to pass and thereafter blocking withdrawal of said neck throughsaid slot said plate having ribs extending at right angles to its planeto resist twisting of the plate.

2. The closure defined in claim 1, further comprising a strap affixed atone end to said plate, and mating formations at said plate and the otherend of said strap for engagement upon slinging of said strap around saidneck to hold the same at a sharp angle within said openmg.

3. The closure defined in claim 1 wherein said plate and said stirrupare monolithically formed in a single piece from resilient material.

1. A closure for a sack of flexible material having a neck, said closurecomprising a generally flat plate formed with an opening adapted toreceive said neck, and a slot leading to said opening at one side ofsaid plate, a stirrup fixed to said plate and forming a grip at saidside, said stirrup having a pair of linear legs converging in thedirection of said slot and leading directly thereto for guiding saidneck into said opening through said slot, said legs including an acuteangle between them; and a resilient barb extending from one of said legsinto said opening and normally obstructing said slot while beingdeflectible upon insertion of said neck through said slot to enable saidneck to pass and thereafter blocking withdrawal of said neck throughsaid slot said plate having ribs extending at right angles to its planeto resist twisting of the plate.
 2. The closure defined in claim 1,further comprising a strap affixed at one end to said plate, and matingformations at said plate and the other end of said strap for engagementupon slinging of said strap around said neck to hold the same at a sharpangle within said opening.
 3. The closure defined in claim 1 whereinsaid plate and said stirrup are monolithically formed in a single piecefrom resilient material.